National Macaroni Day

So why is it that when we talk about ziti or bucatini, we think of some scrumptious authentic Italian dish. We can imagine the indulgent flavours of a perfect pappardelle. Our mouths water at the thought of that amazing orecchiette from that favourite Italian place. But when hear the word ‘macaroni’ we think bright orange mac and cheese from a box. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Kraft Dinner and President’s Choice Deluxe White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese is also awesome. We had a young hockey player living with us that liked to add Cheez Whiz to his KD to make it extra creamy. Another doused it with Tabasco Sauce. I like a spoonful of sambal mixed in mine. My husband is fond of mixing in a taco beef. I may be a foodie, but I’m no food snob. Like everyone, I have my guilty pleasures, but I don’t include KD among them. A box of KD is comfort food in its highest form.

The wonders of Kraft Dinner aside, I still don’t understand why ‘macaroni’ has such a bad name. Why is one shape of pasta haute cuisine and another decidedly low-brow? I really don’t get it. My husband tells me all the time that he doesn’t like penne. But why? Penne is made from the same dough as the other shapes after all. But no he tells me, “penne is different… it’s an awkward shape… you can only get two pieces on your fork… scooby-doos hold more sauce… linguine wraps around your fork… cannelloni is really about the stuffing… lasagna is the same as cannelloni… I don’t like the bow tie ones either… but pappardelle is good…” And the so this entirely illogical, irrational rant goes on. And just for the record, macaroni should have elbows. In his expert opinion the straight noodles you find in the Kraft Dinner box are the only exception to that rule. In all honesty, I just do not understand the hierarchy of pasta. I don’t understand why fast food restaurants make ‘macaroni salad’ while even the most humble mid-range restaurants serve ‘Mediterranean pasta salad.’

KFC Macaroni Salad - This stuff gives macaroni a bad name.

Let’s face it, in school you probably glued macaroni to construction paper and called it art. Spaghetti, on the other hand, was the material of choice for building bridges in physics class. I’m sure there is a great Marxist-Feminist explanation for the apparent class war in the pasta isle, but to me it’s all pasta.

My only dilemma today was what to cook… macaroni salad or Kraft Dinner? It is a beautiful day out there and a cold pasta salad seems very appealing, but I really could go for a box of KD. Is the purpose of this blog to share my recipes or to share my passion for food, in all its incarnations? Will you still respect me when you find out I like spam slathered in bright yellow mustard too?

The decision was torturous. I wanted them both but I ultimately I decided on …

KD and Hotdogs - that's mayo and barbecue sauce on the dog (notice how I made it look like a painting?)

Scooby-Doos are a hollow curled pasta… like someone wrapped them around a straw before drying. I’ve looked for another name for them… but apparently Scooby-doos are too new for any charming stories of peeking through key holes and comparing the shape to the naval of some princess. But, they do hold the sauce well.

That is very interesting — macaroni really does have a bad reputation! But it has the same taste as any other type of pasta! If anything the shape only makes it more suitable for meals because it is easier to eat than many other pastas.

Okay, sometime I just want my kids to eat a quick meal. It doesn’t even have to be nutritious (depending on where we are rushing to) but they won’t eat macaroni. They will eat rotini, penne, and many other shapes so what I have done a couple of times is put the cheese sauce from a box of KD on different pasta. They love it. The three year old would eat the entire pot. . . . poor macaroni, your bad rep started early in our house.

one of my fave restaurants in Victoria is Zambri’s, which does yummy yummy rustic italian, which regularly knocks my socks off. And Della, you’ll be happy to know that on their ever changing pasta selections, you can find the humble macaroni along with all the more “highbrow” noodles. Not everyone is a macaroni snob!